If you want to hit stuff harder - lift weights. If you want to throw people easier - lift weights. If you want to jump higher - lift weights. The answer is evident that martial artists should also be training their bodies with resistance, and weightlifting is one of the most efficient ways to do so.
Read moreAre we practicing what we preach?
Do you remember when you were in middle school or high school? For some of us that has been quite a long time ago. Fortunately, our brains tend to remember a lot from our adolescent years. Think back with me to those younger days and imagine your favorite coach/teacher/team captain. If you were to tell me three of their most common statements, two of them would probably have to do with practice. In fact, regardless of what discipline, art or sport you have learned, you had to practice to achieve any level of proficiency. Maybe you sat for hours doing penmanship, multiplication tables, or repeating vocabulary words. Maybe you played the same five notes on your instrument a hundred times or spend late nights on the driveway shooting 3-pointers until you could hardly lift your arms. Think back to how those times shaped you. Not only your body and mind but also your character. Do you ever wish you could convince your kids or students to practice for “just 5 minutes”?
The reality is, even though we look back on our own practice with an odd fondness, we forget how much of a struggle it was at the time. Most people who achieve a high level of skill in anything had to struggle mentally, physically, and emotionally to do so. The younger generation is no different. If they want to be “good” at something, they are going to have to practice. No matter how many programs or apps or YouTube videos they use, there are no real shortcuts for skill acquisition. However, the marketers and creators of today encourage them to believe otherwise. They use camera tricks, fancy lighting, and editing software to make everything look “easy”. Now the question arises, if the people your students and children are watching/listening to aren’t going to show them the value of practice, who is?
Ok, so we’ve established that you want the next generation to learn how to practice. We’ve also established that the “influencers” aren’t doing them any good in that department. However, I haven’t really given you much hope. So, let’s lift our chins and search for the “art of the possible” for a moment. Who do children spend the most time observing as they grow? That’s right. Parents, older siblings, and schoolteachers. Now, two of those people groups have very established skill sets. One of the most common questions I get from my kids around the house is “how do you do that!?”. While this can be pretty flattering, it can also be surprising when I’m doing something that seems simple like flipping a pancake on the griddle. You see, as we age, we develop established skill sets that no longer require a significant amount of practice to maintain. The pathways in our brains and muscle fibers are now pre-programmed to perform specific tasks. The downside of this wonderful development is that our children don’t see us “practice”. In fact, unless you are a lifelong learner, or involved in some sort of sport that can be played around the house, your kids probably rarely see you develop a new skill set.
Children are mirrors of their parents and teachers. Yep, not only are they watching you, but they are also trying to act like YOU! So, if you want them to practice, you must model the behavior. If you want your students in school or on the baseball field or in the dojo to develop habits of practicing, you need to SHOW them someone who practices. Now, let’s be real, if you are a teacher of any kind, you get a very short amount of time with each student. It isn’t possible to stop teaching and go practice for 10 minutes while they stare at you idly. It isn’t really a good look. However, what you can do, is tell them about what you are practicing. Saying something like, “While I was practicing my reverse punch the other day, I learned…” is a great way to let your students know that you are practicing. Of course, you have to show some integrity here. If you aren’t practicing, it will be obvious to them.
Here we find the great trade – your students need you to model the kind of practice you want them to do (practice what you preach). When you choose to practice in order to be a good example, you will continue to improve yourself! As you improve, your students will see you grow in both skills and character. Kids and students are INSPIRED BY GROWTH! No one wants to follow a dead thing. Be the living, growing, practicing example they need to mirror!
May your practice be plentiful, and your pupils be persistent!
The Martial Library: A Place For All Ages
In today’s world, you often find martial arts schools who train children almost exclusively with very few adult students. Quite often, parents are surprised when an instructor suggests that they try out classes! One of the beauties of martial arts training is that it has something for every age.
Read moreThe Martial Library: Choosing Your First Book
As you look at the field of martial arts to decide what to train in and how to begin, you can become overwhelmed with all the different styles, schools, and lingo that surround the martial arts culture. Where should you start?
Read more5 Tips to Kick Off a Great School Year!
We want to squeeze every last drop out of the summer schedule. Unfortunately, sometimes we leave the prep for school till the very last minute. When we take time to schedule our preparations and get them done early, it can make the transition into the school year much less stressful!
Read moreWhat Have We Lost in the Mix? Part Two
We do not believe that everyone can be perfectly prepared for every situation, but we strive to teach our students the principles and baseline skills that they will need in order to successfully survive and escape an encounter with someone intent on hurting them.
Read moreWhat Have We Lost in the Mix? Part 1
In almost every midsized town and city you can now find a gym or school that teaches “MMA”. That in itself isn’t a bad thing, but many of those schools are missing something that shouldn’t have been lost in the traditions of martial arts training.
Read moreLimit Yourself
Limitations have been given a bad reputation these days, but people of many cultures throughout the history of the world have chosen to impose limitations on themselves for the benefit of themselves, their families, or their countries.
Read moreGear Review: Elite Sports MMA Gloves
Long term training can lead to long term consequences. I know, that isn’t usually what you want to hear from this blog, but after years of smashing the bags, boards, and other things, my knuckles have taken a real “impact” (see what I did there?). I broke down a while back an picked up some gel MMA gloves from Century martial arts because they were on clearance for a few dollars. I loved training with them, but after a few rounds on the bag, they were starting to show the signs of use. I kept them, and I still put them on for doing light bag work or fitness training, but I needed an upgrade. Fortunately, Elite Sports came to the rescue!
Elite sports sent me a pair of AWESOME MMA gloves to review along with one of their bjj uniforms (click here to read about it). To be honest I have never before owned a set of gloves that I liked better! As soon as I opened the package I was impressed by the super sharp detail on the design. There is something about wearing a sharp looking pair of gloves that makes you feel faster and more powerful. When I pulled the gloves out of their nifty storage bag, I could tell from the start that they were well constructed. The materials I am used to in the average “bag gloves” are pretty lightweight and soft. The gloves from Elite were made of heavy-duty material that looks as though it will stand the test of time.
When I first tried to put the gloves on, I thought I had gotten a size to small, but then I recognized a neat little feature that I didn’t expect (shown below). Instead of having a continuous wrist loop that you have to worm a sweaty hand through, Elite designed their glove with a small Velcro closure at the wrist that allows easy entry and then keeps the glove in place while you finish the wrist wrap.
Speaking of the wrist wrap, these puppies have some serious support. While many bag gloves and cheap mma gloves have a single wrap around the wrist, the elite gloves have a double wrap feature with two layers of Velcro to prevent slipping and twisting. When I have them on, I feel like I can really lay into the bag without worrying too much about my wrists.
The best part about these gloves is using them for what they were made for. SPARRING! The light weight and flexibility of these gloves makes you feel almost like you aren’t wearing anything until you need it to be there. They allow for full opening and closing of the hands so that you can grab and parry. Once your hand is closed, they offer plenty of padding over the knuckles to keep you safe from misplaced strikes or blocks.
If you are looking for a new set of gloves, I highly recommend that you try the MMA gloves from Elite sports. While you are at it, you can check out their line of fitness equipment at www.borntough.com
https://www.elitesports.com/collections/mma-grappling-gloves
Gear Review: Elite Sports Lightweight BJJ Gi
You are going to spend the better part of an hour in class sweating and moving and learning and you don’t need to be distracted by an uncomfortable uniform. Can you make it through with the cheapest one on amazon?
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